[Jon Okerstrom]

Okay Walter,

I’ve gotta ask… what’s a “high level” project in your world? What’s the most layers you’ve ever put in one 30 second (or less) project?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Dave,

Unless you plan to install Windows and run AE for windows on these new Macs, it’s too soon to really know. After Effects on the Mac isn’t universal yet, so it would run slowly via Rosetta at best.

In a perfect world, Adobe would have AE universal plus CS3 ready to go universal when Apple is expected to show its first top of the line “Mactel” desktop models in early August. From what I read, that’s not gonna happen.

I’m not certain when the software will catch up with the hardware… maybe first quarter, 2007?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Kkoven,

What exactly isn’t working right? One thing to know: Invigorator applies one texture or material per imported object. If you’re trying to apply more than one to an object, it won’t work right. You need to break your object into single-texture parts in Lightwave.

Does this help?

If now, post an image of what’s happening. That’ll give us some important clues.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Curtis,

Very interesting challenge. I haven’t tried what you’re doing with verioned renderrings. It may have to do with how AE’s render queue calls on the ProAnimator plug-in and application. I saw your post on the AE list.

Let’s see if Matt jumps in with his observations.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

An oldie but a goodie in this case would be Forge Freeform.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Good observation.

You may be right!

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi dlacloche,

Seeing a frame from the scene would really help, but I’m going to guess it might be a spike caused by a weird point in your Illustrator art. These sometimes happen when the angle is very sharp or when the handles are twirled around backwards. Take a very close look at the Illusturator file at the point where the spike occurs.

You can deal with spikes by editing the Illustrator file or by using the spikebuster controls.

Does this help?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Alan,

You have the latest version of ProAnimator, so I can’t suggest that. I do have a couple of ideas.

First, try trashing your AE preferences file.That sometimes fixes things.

Second, do you still have AE 6.5 installed? If so, I would suggest opening the project in AE 6.5, launching the ProAnimator plug-in, and saving the ProAnimator scene file from the ProAnimator plug-in interface. This will allow you to open the ProAnimator portion of the project in the stand-alone ProAnimator app. Try opening that scene file in the stand-alone. If that works, we’re half way there.

At that point, go back to your AE 7 project. I would then get rid of the problem layer and PA effect. Start with a fresh layer, to which the ProAnimator effect is applied. Then instead of creating an object or importing an Illustrator file, use New Scene>Open scene to get to your ProAnimator scene file. Hopefully, starting this way will get around whatever corruption exists in your old AE file.

I’m not sure if this will work, but it just might. Let us know how it goes.

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Phosphene.

Here’s one recipe for how to do it.

On an empty object track, create a torus primative.
Hit the duplicate button. The second torus remains selected and is located in the new track 2.
Track command> Move selected object to Track 1.
Track 2 disappears.
Select both objects.
Pose Grouping>Make group. Name it if you want.
Pose Action>Spin Y.
Choose an amount of spin you want. Adjust the length of the pose if you want.
The two torus objects now spin around their combined center.
Using the object pop-up below the scene preview window, select just one of the objects.
Click the make invisible check box.
The remaining visible torus spins off axis.

You can do the same with objects other than primatives and use other pose actions, of course. You can adjust the position of the either object to change the center of rotation… but do it before they’re grouped.

Does this help?

Jon

[Jon Okerstrom]

Hi Phosphene,

First, the easy part: when you save your Illustrator file, uncheck the compression box. This will help you avoid having to save as an earlier version of Illustrator.

Second, are you trying to make this rotation happen during a pose or during a transition? The answer will help us help you.

Jon